Mirror



May 28, 1940 w. LA HODNY 2,202,697

MIRROR Filed Jan. 18, 1958 j n v l ,y0

W- wfg) 60 y .Zo/izaaga S Patented May 28, 1940 UNITE-D srrfras PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a mirror and more particularly to an encased mirror, such as a rear vision mirror, which is subjected to weather conditions, the principal object of this invention 5 being to provide a reliable seal which prevents water from entering the case or' condensing therein so as to deleteriously affect the silvering of the mirror, by providing a container of a yielding material, such as rubber into which the glass mirror panel is set so as to have its edges embraced thereby, this` assembly being set into a metal container or backand the edges of the metal container compressing the edges of 'the rubber so as to provide a continuously tight seal for `the mirror.

In the use of rear vision mirrors considerable diiculty has been encountered in protecting the silvering of the mirror where the rear vision mirror is exposed to the elements. The silvered mirror panel is generally encased or held in a metal holder and where. the mirror is supported by a universal friction jointthe back of this case or holder may be` formed to provide a large chamber which receives and vforms a seat for the supporting ball. When such mirrors are used outside of the cab, water enters around the edges of the mirror and also enters the opening pro vided for the supporting ball. In addition, water oondenses in the relatively large chamber providedv at the back of the mirror. Such water attacks the protecting paint over the mirror silvering and inl a relatively short time works through to the silvering destroying its reflective properties and rendering the rear vision mirror useless.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a seal made of rubber or similar yielding material, and preferably in the form of a container for the mirror panel, which is interposed between the glass mirror panel and its case or holder and held in a compressed condition against the glass mirror panel so as to entirely prevent water from seeping around the margins of the mirror panel and attacking its reflective coating. y

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a marginal seal which also includes adiaphragm, preferably made ofrubber or the like, which extends across the back ofthe mirror panel in non-adhesive engagement therewith and which not only protects the silver against contamination by water entering at places, other than around the margin of the mirror panel, such as around the universal ball,

but also prevents water from condensing on the rear face of the mirror panel.

Another object of the invention is' to provide a mirror panel encased by a rubber pad and in which the rubber pad is encased in a metal holder which holds the rubber pad in tight sealing engagement with the mirror panel so as to oo mvpletely protect the mirror panel from moisture.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a sealing means which can be incorporated in a rear vision mirror or the like at very little additional expense; which forms a resilient mounting for the glass mirror panel to reduce the danger of breakage, and which can be embodied in a rear vision mirror or the like of any shape or size.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a rear vision mirror made in accordance with the preferred form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is ,a section taken on linel 2 2, Fig. `1.

Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are fragmentary Views similar to Fig. 2 showing modified forms of my invention.`

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the mirror panel is made of a round piece of glass I0 having the usual silvering (not shown) provided on its rear face, which silvering can also be protected by a lacquer coating if desired.

The holder or case for this mirror panel includes .L

a round backing member I3 whichis formed to provide a circular flat portion III adapted to bearA against the rear of the mirror panel I0 and also formed to provide a forwardly facing marginal chanel I5 terminating in a forwardly extending rim I6. The central portion I1 of the backing member I3 is offset rearwardly to form. .a relatively large chamber I8, this offset portionfbeing provided with a central hole I9 receiving the ball 20 of a supporting member 2|, this ball being located within the `chamber I8 and being seated against a rearwardly offset seat 22 provided around the opening I9. The ball 20 is held frictionally in engagement with the seat 22 by a small plate 23 secured to the inner face of the rearwardly offset portion I1 by bolts 24, or the like and bearing against the front side of the ball.

'Ihe mirror panel is held in position by a ring 25 which has its inner edge arranged in advance of the mirror panel I0 and has its rim 26 arranged to extend over the forwardly projecting rimv I6 of the backing member I3. To secure the mirror panel IU, the backing member I3 and ring 25 together, the rearwardly extending part 26 of the ring 25 is spun down around the forwardly projecting rim I6 of the backing member i3.

In the absence of provision to prevent it, water will condense in the chamber i8 and attack the silvering on the mirror panel lll. Further, when the rear vision mirror is subjected to weather conditions, water will seep under the ring 25 and around the margin of the mirror panel I and also attack the silvering. Also water can enter the chamber it from around the ball and attack the silvering. To avoid these difficulties I provide a container of rubber or the like which is preferably in the form of a pad and includes as rim portion 3Q embracing the rim of the mirror panel l0 and held under compression therearound'` by the ring and also an integral diaphragm. or back 3l which extends across 'the back of the mirror panel in engagement therewith but having no adhesive connection to the mirror panel. The rim portion 3B is preferably made of substantial Size to completely ll the channel l5 andv the space within the ring 2i: when the'ringis pressedv toward the backing member and its rear edge spun down.

In assembling the mirror the rubber rim 3D, together with its diaphragm, is set into the channel l5 ofthe backing member i3; the mirror panel It is set into the dish-like pocket formed by the rubber seal 30, 3l and the ring 25 is then placed over the'rim 385 and pressed down so as to compress the rubber rim into the ring 25 and against the iront and rear faces and the edge at the margin of the mirror panel lil. The rearwardly extending flange 25 of the ringmember 25 canthen be spun: down so as to hold the parts in this relation and the rubber in a compressed condition around the margin of the mirror panel.

t will be seen that the margin of the mirror panel lil is thereby completely protected against the passage of water from the front face oftheV mirror to its silvered face and that the diaphragm 3i protects the back of the mirror both against water entering the opening I9 and also against water condensing in the chamber i8. The mirror is therefore completely encased by a rubber pad except for its obverse face and the margin of this pad is held. tightly around the margin of the mirror panel by the encasing holder so as to positively prevent the seepage of water around the margin of the mirror.

A modified form of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 3. In this form of lthe invention the silvered mirror panel lll is backed by al rnetall backing plate 35, this backing plate being made of comparatively thin metal and the edge 36 of this thin metal backing plate which can be spun, if

desired, around the margin of the mirror panel.

I0. It will be seen that the metal backing plate obviates the necessity of a rubber diaphragm across the back of the mirror panel l!) and therefore the rubber ring 30a is of the same form as the rim 30 in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the rubber diaphragm 3l being eliminated. In other respects the mirror shown in Fig. 3 is formed and assembled in the same manner as that shown in Figs. l and 2.

It will also be seen that thefinvention is capable of use ,with a mirror encased by a flat metal backing plate. In the example shown in Fig. 4 the mirror panel it is shown as having a beveled edge filV and is provided on its back with the usual silvering (not shown). The metal back 42 is of at form and is formed at its edges to provide a forwardly opening channel 43 anda rim M extending forwardly therefrom. The means for the margin of the mirror panel and provide a Water tight seal.

The invention can also .be incorporated in a framed backing plate forming a one piece holder for the mirror. Such a construction is illustrated in. Fig. 6 in which the silvered mirror panel I!! is backed by a metal backing plate 60, the .rim -ll of which is extended forwardly suiiiciently far sov that it canY be turned or spun around the forward part of the rim portion 3i) of a pad of rubber or the like, this pad preferably being of the same form as that illustratedin Figs. 1 and 2 and having a diaphragm 3l extending across the reverse face of the mirror.. It will be. seen thatupon turning the rim 6! over' tov exertv pressure on the rubber rim 30, an eiective. sealyfor the mirror platewi-ll be provided in the same manner as in theform of the invention illustrated inFigs. 1 and 2.x At the same time the mirror holder is made. of one piece of metal.

Another exampleI of a sealed mirror held in a fiat. metaly back is shown. in Fig; 5. In this. form the glass mirror panel has the usualsilvered back (not/shown) and: isv provided withA a metal backing plate 5| havingr a forwardly opening y downwardly toforce the rubber under pressurev around the margin of the glass panel yand the ange 53 isthen spun down to hold' thev parts in this condition. f'

From the foregoing it will be seen that the` present invention provides a' very simple, inexpensive and reliable means` forsealing an encased mirror panel against the entrance of water between the case and the margin of the glass 5 panel and also further protects the silvering against any water entering at any other point or condensing within any chamber it may be desirable to provide in the case.

I claim as my invention: l. A- mirror structure, comprising a transparent mirror panel provided' withl a reflective coating on its rear face, a metal holder for said panel and including a rigid riml formed at itsk margin to provide an enlarged internal channel receiving the margin of said mirrorv panell and the iront part of said rimV beingy extended inwardly in front of said panel, andi a sealing member composed ofr rubber including an enlarged rim fitting said channel and embracingY themanginof said. panel and heldy under compression againstv its front and rear faces and its'Y edge f by said rigidA rim and said sealing. member also including. a. thin, imperforate, rubber diaphragm having its margin integrally formed. with. said rubber rim, said diaphragm. extending.` aci-fossv the entire `coating face. of saidfmirror.Y panel. in nona-d hesive engagement therewith, s

2. A mirror-structure, comprising a transparent mirror panelprovided kwith a reflective coating on its rear face, a metal holder for said panel and including a metal back having an integral forwardly extending rigid rim providing a relatively deep internal channel arranged in rear of the margin of said mirror panel, a sealing member composed of rubber including an enlarged rim having its rear portion filling said channel and said rubber rim embracing the margin of said mirror panel and said sealing member also including a thin, imperforate rubber diaphragm having its margin integrally formed with said rubber rim, said diaphragm extending across the entire coating face of said mirror panel in nonadhesive engagement therewith and means for holding said rubber rim under compression comprising a metal marginal member engaging the front part of said rubber rim and pressing thereagainst, said metal rim and metal marginal member including anges crimped to one another to maintain the compressed condition of said rubber rim and its sealing engagement with said mirror panel.

3. A mirror structure, comprising a transparent mirror panelprovided with a reilective coating on its rear face, a metal holder for said panel and including a metal back having an integral forwardly extendingl rigid rim providing a relatively deep internal channel arranged in rear of the margin of said mirror panel, a sealing member composed of rubber including an enlarged rim having its rear portion filling said channel and said rubber rim embracing the margin of said mirror panel and said sealing member also including a thin, imperforate rubber diaphragm having its margin integrally formed with said rubber rim, said diaphragm extending across the entire coating face of said mirror panel in nonadhesive engagement therewith, and means for holding said rubber rim under compression, comprising a metal marginal member formed to provide an internal channel receiving the front enlarged part of said rubber rim and lled thereby, said metal rim and metal marginal member including iianges crimped to one another to maintain the compressed condition of said rubber rim in said channels and its sealing engagement with said mirror panel.

W'ILLIAM LA I-IODNY. 

